2026 HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE:
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM — The Art & Craft of Hospitality
- Speaker: John Cosgrove, Founder, VoiceHive / Cosgrove Presents
What does it truly mean to be hospitable? This session breaks down genuine hospitality into something you can see, hear, and practice. It will show that once you know what to look for, the opportunities to apply it are everywhere. Expect stories, a few laughs, and a fresh lens for the conference ahead.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM — Keynote: YES Leadership 101
- Speaker: Christine Trippi, Founder, YES Leadership Movement, The YES Show
Christine Trippi has spent more than three decades in hotel operations, and she's built a simple, teachable framework around one idea: yes is almost always the answer. Not blind agreement — a trained mindset, real empowerment, and clear boundaries that let your front line say yes with confidence.
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM — Sponsored Breakout: Energy Smart & Waste Wise
- Speaker: NEED NAME, NEED TITLE, Energy Smart & Waste Wise
Join Hospitality Minnesota Allied Member Energy Smart & Waste Wise for a discussion on what sustainability resources they provide that can help your bottom line.
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM — Breakout: YES Leadership 201
- Speaker: Christine Trippi, Founder, YES Leadership Movement, The YES Show
Want to hear more from Christine after her YES Leadership keynote? Join her for a deeper dive into the philosophy of YES Leadership at this Monday Morning Breakout Session.
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM — Breakout: Practical AI Tools/Tips for Operators
- Speaker: Ken Baker, CEO, Roasted Data
"Hear from Ken Baker, current Roasted Data CEO and former restaurant franchise CFO on how AI and data can assist hospitality operations of any size and scale today."
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM — The Courage Advantage: Leading Through Uncertainty
- Speaker: Steve Fredlund, Author of Do the Unright Thing, Memoir of a People Pleaser
Hospitality leaders are navigating constant change, workforce challenges, and uncertainty while still being expected to engage teams and deliver exceptional experiences. In this practical and engaging keynote, Steve Fredlund shares The Courage Advantage, a simple framework to help leaders build trust, strengthen connection, and create the conditions for people and organizations to move forward together.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Breakout: The Power of Intentional Training
- Speakers: Meaghan Sabyan & Caitlyn English, Chowgirls Catering
Hospitality runs on people - yet the industry loses them at a staggering rate, with retention hovering between 10–20%. At Chowgirls, leaders decided to stop accepting that as inevitable. By rebuilding a training program from the ground up, Chowgirls achieved an average staff retention rate of 65% - and the results go far beyond the numbers.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Breakout: It Starts with You: Workplace Wellness from Self, to Employee, to Client
- Speaker: JC Lippold, Wellness Expert and Advisory Board Chair, Cadre
Join JC Lippold for a conversation on optimizing your workplace to promote wellness for all stakeholders of your business.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Breakout: Marketing Your Brand
- Speaker: Michele Roy & J. Marie Fieger, Nemer Fieger
Marketing hospitality brands have never been more crucial than it is now. Join J. Marie Fieger of Nemer Fieger to discuss best marketing practices that will aid attract the costumers you want without draining the resources you have.
3:15 PM – 4:15 PM — Panel Discussion: Lessons in Resiliency, The Next Disruption Will Come
- Moderator: TBA
- Panelists: Tammy Wong, Owner, Rainbow Chinese; TBA; TBA; TBA
Join hospitality operators and industry leaders for a practical discussion built around one certainty in this business: uncertainty itself. Our panelists will share real-world experiences and how their teams are preparing for whatever disruption comes next.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM — Federal Updates From AHLA
- Speakers: Luke Martel, Director of State & Local Government Affairs, American Hotel & Lodging Association
"Hear from National Partners from both the American Hotel & Lodging Association about the state of the industry from a national perspective."
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM — Fluence Media - Signals vs. Noise
- Speaker: Blois Olson, Founder, Fluence Media
"Join Blois Olson of Fluence Media for a conversation on how to you and your business can distinguish fact from fiction in times of unrest and political uncertainty."
2026 HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE:
SPEAKER BIOS
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM — The Art & Craft of Hospitality
- Speaker: John Cosgrove, Founder, VoiceHive / Cosgrove Presents
What does it truly mean to be hospitable? This session breaks down genuine hospitality into something you can see, hear, and practice. It will show that once you know what to look for, the opportunities to apply it are everywhere. Expect stories, a few laughs, and a fresh lens for the conference ahead.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM — Keynote: YES Leadership 101
- Speaker: Christine Trippi, Founder, YES Leadership Movement, The YES Show
Christine Trippi has spent more than three decades in hotel operations, and she's built a simple, teachable framework around one idea: yes is almost always the answer. Not blind agreement — a trained mindset, real empowerment, and clear boundaries that let your front line say yes with confidence.
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM — Sponsored Breakout: Energy Smart & Waste Wise
- Speaker: NEED NAME, NEED TITLE, Energy Smart & Waste Wise
Join Hospitality Minnesota Allied Member Energy Smart & Waste Wise for a discussion on what sustainability resources they provide that can help your bottom line.
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM — Breakout: YES Leadership 201
- Speaker: Christine Trippi, Founder, YES Leadership Movement, The YES Show
Want to hear more from Christine after her YES Leadership keynote? Join her for a deeper dive into the philosophy of YES Leadership at this Monday Morning Breakout Session.
10:50 AM – 11:40 AM — Breakout: Practical AI Tools/Tips for Operators
- Speaker: Ken Baker, CEO, Roasted Data
"Hear from Ken Baker, current Roasted Data CEO and former restaurant franchise CFO on how AI and data can assist hospitality operations of any size and scale today."
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM — The Courage Advantage: Leading Through Uncertainty
- Speaker: Steve Fredlund, Author of Do the Unright Thing, Memoir of a People Pleaser
Hospitality leaders are navigating constant change, workforce challenges, and uncertainty while still being expected to engage teams and deliver exceptional experiences. In this practical and engaging keynote, Steve Fredlund shares The Courage Advantage, a simple framework to help leaders build trust, strengthen connection, and create the conditions for people and organizations to move forward together.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Breakout: The Power of Intentional Training
- Speakers: Meaghan Sabyan & Caitlyn English, Chowgirls Catering
Hospitality runs on people - yet the industry loses them at a staggering rate, with retention hovering between 10–20%. At Chowgirls, leaders decided to stop accepting that as inevitable. By rebuilding a training program from the ground up, Chowgirls achieved an average staff retention rate of 65% - and the results go far beyond the numbers.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Breakout: It Starts with You: Workplace Wellness from Self, to Employee, to Client
- Speaker: JC Lippold, Wellness Expert and Advisory Board Chair, Cadre
Join JC Lippold for a conversation on optimizing your workplace to promote wellness for all stakeholders of your business.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Breakout: Marketing Your Brand
- Speaker: Michele Roy & J. Marie Fieger, Nemer Fieger
Marketing hospitality brands have never been more crucial than it is now. Join J. Marie Fieger of Nemer Fieger to discuss best marketing practices that will aid attract the costumers you want without draining the resources you have.
3:15 PM – 4:15 PM — Panel Discussion: Lessons in Resiliency, The Next Disruption Will Come
- Moderator: TBA
- Panelists: Tammy Wong, Owner, Rainbow Chinese; TBA; TBA; TBA
Join hospitality operators and industry leaders for a practical discussion built around one certainty in this business: uncertainty itself. Our panelists will share real-world experiences and how their teams are preparing for whatever disruption comes next.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM — Federal Updates From AHLA
- Speakers: Luke Martel, Director of State & Local Government Affairs, American Hotel & Lodging Association
"Hear from National Partners from both the American Hotel & Lodging Association about the state of the industry from a national perspective."
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM — Fluence Media - Signals vs. Noise
- Speaker: Blois Olson, Founder, Fluence Media
"Join Blois Olson of Fluence Media for a conversation on how to you and your business can distinguish fact from fiction in times of unrest and political uncertainty."